Robert Celt
New Member
Dana Ulrich says she doesn't relish being a political activist.
The Spring Township woman has been on the front lines of the push to allow medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. She's lobbied lawmakers, had face time with the past two governors and has appeared on national television shows.
But, she said, the role is one of necessity and she would much prefer to be done with it.
She's pushing for the change so she can find out whether cannabis oil would ease the hundreds of seizures her young daughter, Lorelei, suffers daily due to a rare form of epilepsy.
"I just want to be a mom that takes care of her child," Ulrich said. "I don't want to have to be doing all of this."
Ulrich said she and other medical marijuana activists have been patient while their bill has alternated between gaining momentum and stalling in the state Legislature. But, she said, that patience is wearing thin.
"I think the most frustrating part for us is there have been a lot of empty promises," Ulrich said.
Her group, Campaign for Compassion, is planning a Capitol rally Tuesday to discuss the next steps for increasing pressure on lawmakers.
That's a day after the state House of Representatives is scheduled to return to session. A medical cannabis bill has languished in the House since it cleared the Senate on a 40-7 vote in May.
Lawmakers behind the bill say they're hoping to bring the issue to the front burner.
"We've got to be able to hit the ground running," said Rep. Jim Cox, a Spring Township Republican. "I'm working with my leaders and others to really get this started up again when we go back into session."
Optimism and disappointment
Backed by overwhelming public support, the measure seemed to be one with the potential to break through the political gridlock between the GOP-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have advocated for the bill and Wolf has pledged his support.
The measure has faced hurdles in the House. The debate has proven divisive for the chamber's Republican majority, especially for the caucus's top leaders. House Majority Leader Dave Reed supports the bill, but House Speaker Mike Turzai opposes it.
The bill appeared to be on the fast track in July. It was moved to a committee controlled by Reed, who charged a special task force with finding a version of the bill that could clear the House by the end of the summer.
But the debate drifted to the back burner amid fighting over the state budget. A House committee advanced the bill in November, positioning it for a full House vote.
But the legislation has since stalled as it faces nearly 200 proposed amendments, most of which supporters say are designed to thwart legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.
"That to me is nothing more than delay tactics," said state Sen. Mike Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican and one of the measure's chief advocates in the Legislature. "There should be no reason why we don't get this done as soon as possible."
Patients continue to suffer, he said. And lawmakers missed a chance to secure an accomplishment in a year dominated by stalemates.
"This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, this is a matter of quality of life," Folmer said. "Here's something we could have gotten done and show people that we can work together in Harrisburg."
Cox said he's confident the proposal is not dead. He used the analogy of a pilot light, saying the debate's stayed alive but needs a fresh push to reignite. He credited advocates, who have been demonstrating in a mock waiting room in the Capitol Rotunda, for keeping the issue on lawmakers' minds.
"It's sad to see," Cox said of the advocates "Still Waiting Room." "But it's good to see because it is a good reminder that this (bill) isn't just a random piece of paper."
Adding pressure
Advocates say they're ready to turn up the heat.
"We tried to play nice and they took our niceness for being weak," said Luke Shultz of Bernville. "And we're going to show them otherwise."
Shultz, also with Campaign for Compassion, is seeking medical cannabis as an option to help with his severe, chronic back pain.
He said advocates don't want to tip their hands when it comes to tactics. But with lawmakers up for election this year, he said, there will be plenty of opportunity to apply the pressure needed to bring the bill to a vote.
"There's enough votes to pass it," Shultz said. "It's just a matter of getting it to the floor."
Some details still have to be worked out. Debate continues over how the state would administer a medical cannabis program, whether prescriptions would be limited to patients with certain types of conditions and what forms cannabis products could take.
Advocates have argued for fewer restrictions. They say medical cannabis could benefit a wide range of patients - from children will chronic seizures to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder - and that doctors must be able to prescribe the best delivery form for each.
If the bill is approved, it could take up to two years for the state to get the program up and running. For parents and patients, that's part of what makes the delays so frustrating, Ulrich said.
"The more they drag this out," she said, "the longer it's going to take until we actually get the medicine to the people who need it."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: Medical Marijuana Advocates Losing Patience
Author: Liam Migdail-Smith
Photo Credit: Ben Hasty
Website: Reading Eagle
The Spring Township woman has been on the front lines of the push to allow medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. She's lobbied lawmakers, had face time with the past two governors and has appeared on national television shows.
But, she said, the role is one of necessity and she would much prefer to be done with it.
She's pushing for the change so she can find out whether cannabis oil would ease the hundreds of seizures her young daughter, Lorelei, suffers daily due to a rare form of epilepsy.
"I just want to be a mom that takes care of her child," Ulrich said. "I don't want to have to be doing all of this."
Ulrich said she and other medical marijuana activists have been patient while their bill has alternated between gaining momentum and stalling in the state Legislature. But, she said, that patience is wearing thin.
"I think the most frustrating part for us is there have been a lot of empty promises," Ulrich said.
Her group, Campaign for Compassion, is planning a Capitol rally Tuesday to discuss the next steps for increasing pressure on lawmakers.
That's a day after the state House of Representatives is scheduled to return to session. A medical cannabis bill has languished in the House since it cleared the Senate on a 40-7 vote in May.
Lawmakers behind the bill say they're hoping to bring the issue to the front burner.
"We've got to be able to hit the ground running," said Rep. Jim Cox, a Spring Township Republican. "I'm working with my leaders and others to really get this started up again when we go back into session."
Optimism and disappointment
Backed by overwhelming public support, the measure seemed to be one with the potential to break through the political gridlock between the GOP-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have advocated for the bill and Wolf has pledged his support.
The measure has faced hurdles in the House. The debate has proven divisive for the chamber's Republican majority, especially for the caucus's top leaders. House Majority Leader Dave Reed supports the bill, but House Speaker Mike Turzai opposes it.
The bill appeared to be on the fast track in July. It was moved to a committee controlled by Reed, who charged a special task force with finding a version of the bill that could clear the House by the end of the summer.
But the debate drifted to the back burner amid fighting over the state budget. A House committee advanced the bill in November, positioning it for a full House vote.
But the legislation has since stalled as it faces nearly 200 proposed amendments, most of which supporters say are designed to thwart legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.
"That to me is nothing more than delay tactics," said state Sen. Mike Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican and one of the measure's chief advocates in the Legislature. "There should be no reason why we don't get this done as soon as possible."
Patients continue to suffer, he said. And lawmakers missed a chance to secure an accomplishment in a year dominated by stalemates.
"This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, this is a matter of quality of life," Folmer said. "Here's something we could have gotten done and show people that we can work together in Harrisburg."
Cox said he's confident the proposal is not dead. He used the analogy of a pilot light, saying the debate's stayed alive but needs a fresh push to reignite. He credited advocates, who have been demonstrating in a mock waiting room in the Capitol Rotunda, for keeping the issue on lawmakers' minds.
"It's sad to see," Cox said of the advocates "Still Waiting Room." "But it's good to see because it is a good reminder that this (bill) isn't just a random piece of paper."
Adding pressure
Advocates say they're ready to turn up the heat.
"We tried to play nice and they took our niceness for being weak," said Luke Shultz of Bernville. "And we're going to show them otherwise."
Shultz, also with Campaign for Compassion, is seeking medical cannabis as an option to help with his severe, chronic back pain.
He said advocates don't want to tip their hands when it comes to tactics. But with lawmakers up for election this year, he said, there will be plenty of opportunity to apply the pressure needed to bring the bill to a vote.
"There's enough votes to pass it," Shultz said. "It's just a matter of getting it to the floor."
Some details still have to be worked out. Debate continues over how the state would administer a medical cannabis program, whether prescriptions would be limited to patients with certain types of conditions and what forms cannabis products could take.
Advocates have argued for fewer restrictions. They say medical cannabis could benefit a wide range of patients - from children will chronic seizures to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder - and that doctors must be able to prescribe the best delivery form for each.
If the bill is approved, it could take up to two years for the state to get the program up and running. For parents and patients, that's part of what makes the delays so frustrating, Ulrich said.
"The more they drag this out," she said, "the longer it's going to take until we actually get the medicine to the people who need it."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: Medical Marijuana Advocates Losing Patience
Author: Liam Migdail-Smith
Photo Credit: Ben Hasty
Website: Reading Eagle